Bush press conference - energy

[LadyJeanne]

Question: Whenever the discusson of high oil prices is raised, the administration always says the answer is to pass an energy bill. How will this lower gas prices?

Bush: We need to lower the price of crude oil, cause crude oil is a large component of gas, and if we can lower the price of crude oil, gas prices will go down. We need to pass the energy bill. We haven't had an energy policy in years.

Energy policy:

Coal - technology will enable us to figure out how to burn coal cleanly

Nuclear Power Plants - we haven't built any plants since the '70's, you know

Drilling in the Alaskan oil reserves - technology allows us to drill on only 2 million acres rather than all of the 19 million in the heart of Alaska. (No, I have no idea what that means, but that's what he said).

Liquifying natural gas reserves around the globe - you need boats to transport it, and the US only has five stations that can accept the shipments.


This was gobbledygook to me when I was listening to Bush speak. Does anyone know anything about this Energy bill and what it actually says?

 

[Dhalgren150]

you listened to him... i turn off all things when he talks get as far away from his voice for fear of getting Ill.

Oil... means $$$$ for him so... go figure....

 

[impressive]

If I listen, I feel like I need to shower afterwards. The man gives me the creeps.

 

[LadyJeanne]

I know, I know, I can barely watch. His delivery smacks of condescension, his smirky smile makes me want to throw things at his head, and the content of his answers makes little sense.

However, I do believe in "know thine enemy". I'm afraid of this man's policies and proposals. If I ignore him as I wish I could do, and if others do as well, I'm afraid I'll wake up in three years to find hot coals up my ass.

 

[Dhalgren150]

I just wonder how people voted for this chump..... and yes I also am fearful of the slow erosion of our basic rights...

what next will be assailed by the Right wing do good for all people.

 

[LadyJeanne]

I just wonder how people voted for this chump..... and yes I also am fearful of the slow erosion of our basic rights...

what next will be assailed by the Right wing do good for all people.

What's next?

He's working on a means test for Social Security. So, those people who have higher incomes when they retire will qualify for fewer SS benefits, regardless of how much they put into the system over the years. Thing is, my fear is that those "higher incomes" are going to cut across a wide swath of the middle class.

Private accounts, means tests, sliding scales - he wants a wholesale revamp of SS and doesn't even consider rolling back his fricking tax cuts.

What's next?

 

[Dhalgren150]

I recall seeing a proposal for a national sales tax..... and the end of the IRS... where did they put that one...


as for social Security.... I always figured to work until I leave this realm...

his plan hurts to many people in the age ranges from 38 to 54.... and the savings plan well who will that help to make even more $$ for?

Cheney is a very slick person.. he never fails to make profits for his old buddies.

 

[yui]

What's next?

Four Horsemen?

 

[rgraham666]

The system by which the 'footprint' of drilling in the Alaska Wildlife Preserve is 'interesting.'

If I used their system to measure how I use my floor, I only use a few square inches. Only things actually resting on the floor count! Nothing else!

Cool eh?

 

[LadyJeanne]

Four Horsemen?

Don't get me started on Supreme Court Justices...

 

[Dhalgren150]

why not the Supreme Court?

I would love a life long appointment with that salary....

 

[LadyJeanne]

The system by which the 'footprint' of drilling in the Alaska Wildlife Preserve is 'interesting.'

If I used their system to measure how I use my floor, I only use a few square inches. Only things actually resting on the floor count! Nothing else!

Cool eh?

That's what happens when you rely on "No Child Left Behind" to calculate area.

 

[rgraham666]

That's what happens when you rely on "No Child Left Behind" to calculate area.

"Left behind what?" is my question.

 

[LadyJeanne]

"Left behind what?" is my question.

It no longer matters. The election is over, the catchy "No Child Left Behind" law was just about test scores and getting votes, and nobody talks about it anymore.

The kids? Oh, them. Nothing's changed for them either.

 

[TheEarl]

Hmm, what can we do about energy? We can either reduce the price of crude oil, which we, the richest nation in the world, buy from 3rd world countries. This is presumably done by invading them and making it our oil.

Or we can sign up to the Kyoto treaty and stop spending energy like it's going out of fashion.

The Earl

 

[TheEarl]

It no longer matters. The election is over, the catchy "No Child Left Behind" law was just about test scores and getting votes, and nobody talks about it anymore.

The kids? Oh, them. Nothing's changed for them either.

What is 'no child left behind'? Never heard of it.

The Earl

 

[yui]

What is 'no child left behind'? Never heard of it.

The Earl

Very, very simple version: Education mandate. No child, regardless of circumstances, will fail to get a quality education.

 

[TheEarl]

So a child with severe Special Needs will finish school with a full graduation or SATs or whatever your qualifications are? The Soviet Union tried to claim that they had a 100% literacy rate too.

The Earl

 

[LadyJeanne]

What is 'no child left behind'? Never heard of it.

The Earl

Basically, the law sets new standards for students, teachers, and schools. The most obvious change is that children will now be given standardized tests nearly every year. The previous law required far less frequent testing. The law also gives parents more information and, in some cases, more choice about which school their child attends.

Beginning in 2005, students in grades three through eight must be tested every year in math and English to ensure they're meeting state standards. Students in grades ten through twelve will be tested at least once. By 2007, states will begin testing students in science as well.

By the end of the 2005-2006 school year, teachers must be "highly qualified" in the subjects they teach. States will determine what skills teachers must have to be considered "highly qualified," but the requirements could include a degree in the subject they teach or extra training.

Each year, schools must increase the number of students who achieve state standards. At the end of 12 years, all students should be able to pass the tests.

That's about it. It's a law about tests.

 

[LadyJeanne]

So a child with severe Special Needs will finish school with a full graduation or SATs or whatever your qualifications are? The Soviet Union tried to claim that they had a 100% literacy rate too.

The Earl

I believe at least some special needs kids won't be tested each year. Their scores usually lower the average scores of the schools, which might decrease their funding.

 

[CharleyH]

Oiling you would be chaeper

Question: Whenever the discusson of high oil prices is raised, the administration always says the answer is to pass an energy bill. How will this lower gas prices?

Bush: We need to lower the price of crude oil, cause crude oil is a large component of gas, and if we can lower the price of crude oil, gas prices will go down. We need to pass the energy bill. We haven't had an energy policy in years.

Energy policy:

Coal - technology will enable us to figure out how to burn coal cleanly

Nuclear Power Plants - we haven't built any plants since the '70's, you know

Drilling in the Alaskan oil reserves - technology allows us to drill on only 2 million acres rather than all of the 19 million in the heart of Alaska. (No, I have no idea what that means, but that's what he said).

Liquifying natural gas reserves around the globe - you need boats to transport it, and the US only has five stations that can accept the shipments.


This was gobbledygook to me when I was listening to Bush speak. Does anyone know anything about this Energy bill and what it actually says?

 

[LadyJeanne]

Oiling you would be chaeper

And probably a hell of a lot more fun for all.

 

[TheEarl]

Basically, the law sets new standards for students, teachers, and schools. The most obvious change is that children will now be given standardized tests nearly every year. The previous law required far less frequent testing. The law also gives parents more information and, in some cases, more choice about which school their child attends.

Beginning in 2005, students in grades three through eight must be tested every year in math and English to ensure they're meeting state standards. Students in grades ten through twelve will be tested at least once. By 2007, states will begin testing students in science as well.

By the end of the 2005-2006 school year, teachers must be "highly qualified" in the subjects they teach. States will determine what skills teachers must have to be considered "highly qualified," but the requirements could include a degree in the subject they teach or extra training.

Each year, schools must increase the number of students who achieve state standards. At the end of 12 years, all students should be able to pass the tests.

That's about it. It's a law about tests.

Oh good god. That's the kind of shit that I'm voting for the Tories to try and get rid of in this country. Tests and benchmarks and bureaucracy and paperwork.

"We need 5million more teachers!"
"Why?"
"The ones we have are doing paperwork and can only do half the work they used to. But we have forms that show they're doing it really well."

The Earl

 

[LadyJeanne]

Oh good god. That's the kind of shit that I'm voting for the Tories to try and get rid of in this country. Tests and benchmarks and bureaucracy and paperwork.

"We need 5million more teachers!"
"Why?"
"The ones we have are doing paperwork and can only do half the work they used to. But we have forms that show they're doing it really well."

The Earl

Exactly. And if your school meets the test standards, your school gets more money. If not, then your school loses money. Well, gee, what schools do you think are going to do poorly on the tests? The ones that are in the poor cities and don't have much money to begin with, so let's take more away from them.

See? No child left behind in the nonsense.

 

[Dhalgren150]

yes I agree.. I am rural and poverty area...
and we have a elected Gov. that cannot even get a Constitutionaly balanced Education budget... so we slide down the scale more every year...

soon we will have to home school our children here...

sad comentary for the most powerful nation on the planet...

let alone the Helath Care problems we have here.

ahh this burns my fuse.